On Mon, 25 Dec 2000 12:38:06 +0000, Julian and Jackie wrote:
(message-ID<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> )
>>Would any fanciers on this list who have Blue gerbils be agreeable to
>>sending soem blue gerbils to the USA?
>
>As far as I know there are only five people with these gerbils, of which
>one is on this list. The Blues are held in laboratory like conditions
>and none have been released to even house guests yet.
>
Correct.
>I understand that the plan is not to release them until the researchers
>have seen the combined effects of each other mutation on the suspected
>dilute gene. This is because when they started work on the Burmese
>mutation people had been breeding them to various other colours and
>there was a multitude of new colours. They had to do many years work to
>establish the genotype of each of these colours from heterozygous
>populations which delayed them very much. This time they want to
>discover each new colour for themselves using pure bred strains they
>have developed.
>
Very well explained! That is part of the reason. But also, because we have
had (and still have) big problems when breeding animals with this gene. The
females often have problems while giving birth, and often the pups die, but
also the mother often dies. This is probably due to too much inbreeding at
the university where the animals came from (they where held there as feeder
animals). So we are doing a lot of out crossing with healthy, unrelated
animals, but this goes very slow, and still not all breeding problems are
gone. So another important thing is that we want to be sure to have a good
and healthy stock of animals, before spreading them around. Because for
sure, people will want to breed as much blues as possible, and will not be
willing to outcross the "precious" animals. So we thought we better be wise
and do that first.
>When this is complete this mutation will be released to fanciers and I
>am sure there will be several people who will help them pass across the
>Atlantic. However I have no idea when this will be.
The person at the university who discovered them, and asked us (the Gerbil
Genetics Group) to help him figuring out what mutation this is, and how it
interacts with the already known colours, first wants to write his thesis
about this new colour, before he wants any animals to be given away. We
promised him to respect that, and won't give any animals away before he
says it's OK. So that's the third reason no blues are available yet.
The way we can overlook things now, it won't be before 2002 that the blues
will be "released". Sorry, but I hope you all understand, we expected to
have done enough breeding etc. by 2001, but due to the breeding problems we
had/have this is not possible. There are still breeding problems, and we
don't want to give other people animals that are not 100% OK. The thesis
cannot be written yet either, due to too few data we have.
But we will surely announce soon enough when the blues are available, to
give everyone a fair chance to purchase them! We think it is in every ones
interest that there will be a wide spread, healthy population of this new
mutation!
Karin.
GGG member (read about the GGG at: http://www.gerbil-info.nl.com/GGG.htm)
--
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>>>>> Karin van Veen <<<<<
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